Motor drive cooling duct system and method

1. A ducted electrical power conversion system, comprising:

a first structural duct assembly configured to sealingly receive a converter;

the converter supported on the first structural duct assembly, a converter heat sink of the converter extending into a converter cooling air channel of the first structural duct assembly;

a second structural duct assembly mated to the first structural duct assembly and configured to sealingly receive an inverter; and

the inverter supported on the second structural duct assembly, an inverter heat sink of the inverter extending into an inverter cooling air channel of the second structural duct assembly.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second structural duct assemblies includes a respective partition separating the converter and inverter cooling air channels into separate first and second air channels.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the first air channel defined by the respective partition directs cooling air past the inverter, without cooling the inverter, into contact with the converter heat sink.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the second air channel defined by the respective partition directs cooling air into contact with the inverter heat sink and past the converter, without cooling the converter.

5. The system of claim 2 , comprising a guide vane adjacent to a base of one of the partitions for controlling flow of cooling air through the first and second air channels.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the guide vane is disposed adjacent to an inlet air duct in which a blower directs air into the first and second structural duct assemblies.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first structural duct assembly comprises at least one wall section having a step or baffle configured to direct cooling air into contact with the converter heat sink.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second structural duct assembly comprises at least one wall section having a step or baffle configured to direct cooling air into contact with the inverter heat sink.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the inverter comprises three or more separate switching modules for converting DC power to controlled frequency AC power, and wherein the second structural duct assembly comprises at least one wall section having a plurality of steps or baffles configured to direct cooling air towards a portion of the inverter heat sink generally corresponding to locations of the three or more separate switching modules.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first structural duct assembly is capable of supporting the converter when the first structural duct assembly is lifted for displacement without removal of the converter from the first structural duct assembly.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second structural duct assembly is capable of supporting the inverter when the second structural duct assembly is lifted for displacement without removal of the inverter from the second structural duct assembly.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second structural duct assemblies are capable of supporting the inverter and the converter when the first and second structural duct assemblies are lifted together for displacement without removal of the converter from the first structural duct assembly and without removal of the inverter from the second structural duct assembly.

13. A ducted electrical power conversion system, comprising:

a converter comprising a converter circuitry for converting AC power to DC power and a converter heat sink for cooling the converter circuitry;

a first structural duct assembly configured to sealingly receive the converter with the converter heat sink extending into a converter cooling duct channel of the first structural duct assembly, wherein the first structural duct assembly is capable of supporting the converter when the first structural duct assembly is displaced without removal of the converter from the first structural duct assembly;

an inverter comprising a inverter circuitry configured to convert DC power from the converter, or other DC feed, to controlled frequency AC power and an inverter heat sink for cooling the inverter circuitry; and

a second structural duct assembly mated to the first structural duct assembly and configured to sealingly receive the inverter with the inverter heat sink extending into an inverter cooling duct channel of the second structural duct assembly, wherein the second structural duct assembly is capable of supporting the inverter when the second structural duct assembly is displaced without removal of the inverter from the second structural duct assembly.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the first and second structural duct assemblies are capable of supporting the inverter and the converter when the first and second structural duct assemblies are lifted together for displacement without removal of the converter from the first structural duct assembly and without removal of the inverter from the second structural duct assembly.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein each of the first and second structural duct assemblies includes a respective partition separating the converter and inverter cooling duct channels into separate first and second air channels.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the first air channel defined by the respective partition directs cooling air past the inverter, without cooling the inverter, into contact with the converter heat sink.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the second air channel defined by the respective partition directs cooling air into contact with the inverter heat sink and past the converter, without cooling the converter.

18. The system of claim 15 , comprising a guide vane adjacent to a base of one of the partitions for controlling flow of cooling air through the first and second air channels.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the guide vane is disposed adjacent to an inlet air duct in which a blower directs air into the first and second structural duct assemblies.

20. A ducted electrical power conversion system, comprising:

a converter comprising converter circuitry for converting AC power to DC power and a converter heat sink for cooling the converter circuitry;

a first structural duct assembly configured to sealingly receive the converter with the converter heat sink extending into a converter cooling air channel of the first structural duct assembly, wherein the first structural duct assembly is capable of supporting the converter when the first structural duct assembly is displaced without removal of the converter from the first structural duct assembly;

an inverter comprising inverter circuitry configured to convert DC power from the converter, DC feed, or common bus, to controlled frequency AC power and an inverter heat sink for cooling the inverter circuitry;

a second structural duct assembly mated to the first structural duct assembly and configured to sealingly receive the inverter with the inverter heat sink extending into an inverter cooling air channel of the second structural duct assembly, wherein the second structural duct assembly is capable of supporting the inverter when the second structural duct assembly is displaced without removal of the inverter from the second structural duct assembly;

first and second partitions disposed in the first and second structural duct assemblies, respectively, for separating the converter and inverter cooling air channels into separate first and second air channels;

first and second baffled walls in the first and second structural duct assemblies, respectively, for directing cooling air into contact with the converter heat sink and the inverter heat sink, respectively;

an inlet air duct disposed adjacent to the second structural duct assembly for directing cooling air from a blower into the first and second air channels; and

a guide vane adjacent to the inlet air duct for controlling flow of cooling air through the first and second air channels.